County launches America 250 grant
Up to $15,000 available for local heritage events
By: David M. Zimmer
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Passaic County is offering up to $15,000 per project for local groups planning events tied to the nation's 250th anniversary.
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The county's "America 250" mini-grant program will fund municipalities, nonprofits, schools, libraries and cultural organization for projects ranging form exhibits and performance to public art and education programs.
..... Officials said the goal is to support events that connect national themes to Passaic County's own history and communities with an emphasis on a efforts that are open the public and reflect the county's diversity.
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"Passaic County is rich in stories that reflect the spirit and diversity of our nation," Commissioner Deputy director Orlando Cruz said in a statement. "Through the America 250 Mini Grant Program, we are empowering our communities to share those stories in meaningful ways that bring people together, celebrate our shared heritage and inspire future generations."
..... Passaic County's Revolutionary War history can be told through sites across the county, from headquarters and encampments to supply routes and river crossings.
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In the summer of 1780, George Washington established his headquarters at Day Mansion in Wayne as British forces hes New York. One of the more well-preserved historic sites in the region, the property west of the Passaic River allowed Washington to safety direct troop movements across North Jersey.
..... By the following winter, the strain inside the army had reached Pompton (present-day Bloomingdale). In January 1781, solders of the New Jersey Line refused orders to march as they protested against unpaid wages and disputed enlistments. The mutiny followed a larger uprising in Pennsylvania and forced Washington to respond to unrest within his own ranks at a moment when resources were thin and the outcome of the war remained uncertain.
..... The geography of what is now Passaic County also shaped how the war played out. The Passaic River corridor, running through Little falls, Totowa and the Acquackanonk section of Passaic, carried troops, supplies and communications among position across northern New Jersey.
..... Control of river crossings was critical as forces shifted, while elevated ground offered a view of the routes below. What ins now Rifle Cap Park in woodland Park overlooks that valley, and it was used by continental solders to track movement and defend approaches into the interior.
..... The history of the ware also remains fixed in names and markers across ht county. In Paterson, monuments stand for military heroes Casimir Pulaski and Abraham Godwin. Nearby sites witnessed British activity late in the conflict, including what is described as one of the last raids in the area.
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Meanwhile, iron produced at Long Pond Ironworks in West Milford supplied materials used by the continental Army. Nearby, in Ringwood, Robert Erskine mapped roads and terrain that helped guide troops around the region.
How to apply
..... County officials said the grant program is intended to support projects that bring that history into focus through public events and programming.
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Application are one on a rolling basis through December 31 [2026] or until funding runs out. Priority will go to proposals that are publicly accessible, encourage broad participation and highlight local history and identity.